From Access to Belonging: LGBTIQA+ People with Disability at Events
July is Disability Pride Month — a time to celebrate identity, culture, community, and rights. This event, co-hosted by the Office of the Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities, Inclusive Rainbow Voices, the Accessible Pride Project, and the Victorian Pride Centre, is a lunch-and-learn focused on making LGBTIQA+ events more welcoming for people with disability.
This session isn’t about adding accessibility as an afterthought — it’s about building it in from the start, right through planning, communication, delivery, and evaluation. Whether you’re a local council staffer, a community org, an event producer, or just passionate about inclusive spaces, this is for you.
People with disability too often face physical, sensory, communication, or attitudinal barriers at events — even those designed for safety and belonging. This panel will unpack why access matters, how to involve lived experience in planning, and what practical steps you can take to create truly inclusive events.
The hour-long panel includes voices who’ve lived the experience and worked to change systems. Expect real stories, honest questions, and actionable tips — followed by a casual discussion, networking, and lunch.
Speakers
- Jess Cadwallader (she/they), CEO, Inclusive Rainbow Voices (Facilitator)
- Katherine Marshall (they/she), Access & inclusion expert
- Micheal Castro (he/him), Peer Worker at Rainbow Rights and Advocacy and an Intersectional Lived-Experience Expert for Accessible Pride
- Matthew Parsons (they/them), Project Manager, Accessible Pride, Thorne Harbour Health
- Stuart Andreson (he/him), Deaf-led Team Leader and specialist in accessible communication
- Meredith Johnson (she/her), Chillout Festival, Daylesford
Accessibility is not one-size-fits-all — and this session won’t pretend to cover everything. Instead, think of it as a starting point for your own reflection, learning, and action. Bring your questions. Bring your ideas. Bring your curiosity.
Confirmed access provisions include: in-person and online participation, wheelchair access, Auslan interpreting, hearing loop, live captions, a quiet space, and support for service animals.
Need something different? Let the team know at contact@pridecentre.org.au by Monday 27 June so they can make it happen.
Event runs: 12pm–1pm (hybrid panel), 1pm–2pm (in-person chat and lunch).